BOMBS

BIG CARD AT FAIR GROUNDS SATURDAY

Canadian-owned PATENA takes a Derby step

PATENA (Seeking the Gold - Handpainted) has spent lots of time getting accustomed to his new surroundings in the barn of Rick Dutrow Jr. and after his new conditioner has spent time working with the colt, the apir are ready to go on the stage.
Co-owned by John and Glen Sikura and Dominic Dilalla, PATENA is the 7 to 2 second favourite for the Louisiana Derby amd he had a sharp 59.40 workout 2 days ago.

Photo- FRIESAN FIRE, by A.P, INDY, a big fave in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday.
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo


Saturday, Fair Grounds
LOUISIANA DERBY-GII, $600,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY

1 Free Country Big Country Desormeaux
2 Soul Warrior Lion Heart S Bridgmohan
3 Patena Seeking the Gold Albarado
4 Terrain Sky Mesa Leparoux
5 Flying Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus Velazquez
6 Giant Oak Giant’s Causeway Graham
7 Uno Mas Macho Uno Hernandez Jr
8 Papa Clem Smart Strike Bejarano
9 Friesan Fire A.P. Indy Saez
10 Nowhere to Hide Vindication Lanerie
All carry 122 pounds.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
MERVYN MUNIZ JR MEMORIAL H.-GII, $500,000,
4yo/up, 1 1/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Brass Hat Prized Borel 113
2 My Happiness (Arg) Festin (Arg) S Bridgmohan 115
3 Golden Yank Yankee Gentleman Theriot 116
4 Wesley El Prado (Ire) Velazquez 115
5 Windward Islands Cozzene Lanerie 118
6 Soldier's Dancer Lost Soldier Bejarano 119
7 Sir Whimsey Jump Start Saez 114
8 Corrupt Belong to Me Albarado 118
9 El Caballo El Corredor Leparoux 114
10 Nownownow Whywhywhy Prado 116
11 Demarcation Gulch Castanon 116
12 Transduction Gold Formal Gold Mena 116
13 French Beret Broad Brush Graham 117
14 Proudinsky (Ger) Silvano (Ger) Espinoza 119


Saturday, Fair Grounds
NEW ORLEANS H.-GII, $500,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 It's a Bird Birdonthewire Leparoux 120
2 Golden Yank Yankee Gentleman Theriot 118
3 Secret Getaway Skip Away Desormeaux 116
4 Dry Martini Slew Gin Fizz Prado 117
5 Brothers Nicholas Smart Strike Graham 116
6 Wishful Tomcat Tactical Cat Espinoza 117
7 El Caballo El Corredor Lanerie 115
8 Good and Lucky Wild Rush Valenzuela 118
9 Slew's Tiznow Tiznow Bejarano 116
10 Honest Man Unbridled’s Song Saez 121
11 Macho Again Macho Uno Albarado 116
12 Richard's Kid Lemon Drop Kid Napravnik 116
13 Star Guitar Quiet American Bourque 116
14 My Pal Charlie Indian Charlie Velazquez 119



CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

MOONSHINE JUSTICE, a stakes winner of over $522,000 and 7-years-old, won a $7,500 claiming race at Mountaineer on the weekend by 9 lengths for owner/trainer LOREN COX. The gelding is by Whiskey Wisdom.

IZKRA, an Ontario bred by Iskandar Elakbar out of Volterra by Cool Victor won a $5,000 claiming race at Mountaineer yesterday for owner/trainer Loren Cox (see Moonshine Justice above). Izkra won the 5 1/2 furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths at 5 to 1.

HE'S THE REAL DEAL, a 4yo by Bold Executive - Mrs. Fisher by Alydeed, won at Mountaineer yesterday for MIKE NEWELL and MIKE BARKOWSKI. The gelding won for $5,000 maiden dlaiming by 4 1/2 lengths.

LOOKOFANEAGLE battled through heavy fog to win at Mountaineer on Sunday at even-money. The Ontario bred by Birdonthewire won for $5000 claiming for Ed Shilling.


ANOTHER DOUBLE FOR PION

Owner/trainer BOBBY PION has had a big meeting at Mountaineer and took another two wins yesterday - with Kentucky bred LOST IN THE FOREST and British Columbia bred MAGIC AL JACK.

LOST IN THE FOREST - The 4yo Forest Camp gelding won a $15,000 maiden claimer at 3 to 1.
A few races later, MAGIC AL JACK, by Alfaari, won a $5,000 claimer by 3 lengths as the 2 to 1 favourite.


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BLUE EXIT TRIBUTE

The tragic breakdown of BLUE EXIT (Pulpit) in the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday had a prfound affect on so many, certainly his set of Canadian owners Jim and Susan Hill, Dick Bonnycastle and Warren Byrne, who brought the colt over from overseas.

Cal-Poly Pomona journalism student Marcie Heacox befirended Blue Exit for a class project and had videos and photos and stories about the gorgeous colt as he prepared for his big race.

Read her tribute:

The Worst Possible Ending

March 7, 2009.

Days like this make me question my love for horse racing.

This week I have been following Blue Exit as he trained for the Big Cap. Those who have checked the blog often have had the chance to follow along, too.

On Saturday, I went to morning workouts. An Eoin Harty horse reportedly broke down at the end of its workout. It would not surprise me if that had something to do with Colonel John (a Harty trainee) being scratched from the Big ‘Cap. Also, three horses got loose on the tracks and tore trough the barn area during the time that I was there.

There just seemed to be an odd feeling in the air.

I went to the Hollendorfer barn to get a photo of the detention stall sign in front of Blue Exit’s stall. While I was there, I was pleasantly surprised to see his owners come in to visit him. It was a great photo opportunity, as Blue happily reveled in the attention.

Not surprisingly, Blue Exit was tough to handle in the paddock, repeatedly lunging forward. His good looks brought his odds down to 6-1 by post time. His connections have always been high on him, and now the public was starting to agree.

read the rest:

http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/race/?p=113



WALLY WOOD from the Toronto Star

WOOD, Walter K. - With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our darling Daddy on March 8th, 2009 at Bridgepoint Hospital in his 77th year. Cherished father of Julia (Paul), Kimberley (Jason) and Kristen (Trevor). Beloved "Boopy" to Alexander and Jillian. Predeceased by his father Walter and mother Kate Lillian. Wally was born in Portland, Oregon in 1932 and raised in Nottingham, England. He attended Worksop College for Boys. After a few years in the British Army he came to Montreal in the early fifties and attended McGill University. His love of thoroughbred racing brought him to the Daily Racing Form in Toronto 1968. His daily columns appeared for over three decades. Affectionately named "Wally Woodbine" by his peers and fans he was well known and admired in the thoroughbred racing community. He was passionate about many things and enjoyed tennis, squash, rugby, running and jazz music. Although he loved everything about life in general his first love was his girls. They had many wonderful adventures together. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Bridgepoint Hospital for being so attentive, loving and kind to Daddy. A heartfelt thank you to his friends who visited over these last few months. At Wally's request there will be no visitation or funeral. Cremation will take place and a gathering to celebrate his lovely life will happen at a later date.